-Press Information Bureau (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)     Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, has asked for thorough streamlining of systems in the distribution of free generic drugs to government health institutions at all levels throughout the country. The Free Drug Programme's formal launch would be preceded by working out all logistical details with respect to procurement and distribution in consultation with the state governments. The...

-The Hindu   Chennai: In a fresh bid to widen access to low-cost quality food, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has ordered opening of 360 more "Amma Unavagams," the popular eateries, across Tamil Nadu. Among them 200 eateries would be set up in the Chennai Corporation limits. With this, the State would soon have 654 such canteens serving quality food at affordable rates. In expanding this welfare scheme which benefits the poor, daily wage earners,...

-The Hindu   It is creditable that Narendra Modi seeks inspiration for his growth model from China and Japan rather than the U.S., which is a high-cost, specialist-driven model The old adage ‘health is wealth' was given legitimacy by no less a personage than Professor Jeffrey Sachs, who in 2000, chaired the World Health Organization's Commission on Macroeconomics and Health (CMH). The CMH report brought forth indisputable evidence of the link between health,...

-The Hindu   Many small hospitals may find the new norms beyond their capacity The National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) has released a new batch of entry-level standards for accreditation of smaller hospitals. As the name suggests, Entry Level Standards are meant for hospitals who want to get started on the quality certification journey, but are unable to do so due to the stringent requirements of the full NABH...

-IIM Ahmedabad   There is no denying the fact that human life is precious and in cases of medical negligence, the judges find it extremely difficult to decide on the quantum of compensation as the quantum is highly subjective in nature, and despite the best efforts of the legislature to enact certain laws which can somehow provide a framework for arriving at a quantum, and also interpretation by the judiciary for so...